The Big Fish in a Little Bowl Syndrome

Just recently I've been thinking about people who seem to live way below their potential, only minimally try at their relationships, and don't make much of an effort in raising their kids. They seem to be living on a scale form one to five in a one to ten world. Now, I know you may be saying, maybe they're just happy with what they have. I'm not talking about people who make a conscious decision to live more simply than they actually have to, I'm talking about those who just seem to want to "get by" with their lives and strive for nothing more. Let's take a look at what these people look like, and why they might have this type of 'Just getting by" attitude.

What do these people look like?-

They often times live off of some kind of assistance when they have no legitimate reason to. Please know I do understand that some people do need and deserve assistance at times in their life. I'm not talking about these types of individuals at all. I'm talking about the ones that make it their career to know how to play the system to the hilt. They actually believe that hard working tax payers are their own personal Federal Credit Union. Although they minimally take care of their children, just short of a visit form a social worker, they don't offer their children much more than the basics of life. They don't care how their kids talk (toilet mouths), what they watch on TV, or even what kinds of friends their kids are hanging out with. Educating their children means turning on the TV, and sending them to school when the kids feel like it. They do no more than offer their kids survival needs and nothing more. They have no ambition to make the quality of their life better for themselves, no less for their children. They believe in nothing, including themselves. So what's going on with these types of people?

What's their problem?-

Well there may be several reasons for this type of attitude of "Just getting by". The attitude most certainly could have been learned from parents, grandparents, and generations before. We learn what we live. If this individual came form a household that had productive parents, they may be rebelling against the so called "establishment". Some may find it easier and safer to be a big fish in a little bowel. After all if all the people you chose to be around are these types of people, it wouldn't take much effort to look like the "Top Dog". Why bother to try for a seven or eight on a scale from one to ten, and only be one of the average guys. They may not have a belief in something greater than themselves, which might supply them with the faith to obtain more in life. Whatever the reason there doesn't seem to be much reason to be more than a five in their minds and in their lives.

How sad that these people never develop a sense of worth to try and become more than then just someone who "Just gets by". I truly believe God gave all of us the "Right Stuff' to become and strive for so much more, inside ourselves, as well as our quality of life for ourselves and our children. This isn't about lots of money or social climbing. This is simply about creating a quality of life that God wishes us all to have!